Chiefs’ Chris Jones: ‘I’d change it’ if given another chance to avoid resistance

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — If he had another chance, Chris Jones admitted Wednesday that he would have changed the way he approached his stay with the Kansas City Chiefs, which the All-Pro defensive tackle carried during the offseason, training camp and preseason. throughout their season-opening loss to the Detroit Lions.

How exactly would he change it? Jones didn’t really say.

“When you have a lot of new guys, it’s a little tough to be out, especially in the defensive line room,” said Jones, who was back at practice two days after agreeing to a contract. ‘a reworked year which could amount to an increase if certain incentives are affected.

“These are decisions you have to live with,” he continued. “I would change it, but I’m grateful for the result.”

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said he expects Jones to be on the field in some capacity Sunday in Jacksonville.

“He’s a big part of it and you know, I’m glad he’s back. We’ll just see where he’s at physically as we go,” Reid said. “He normally keeps himself in pretty good shape. We’ll see how he performs there.

At least he’ll be there.

Jones spent the Chiefs’ first game against Detroit last Thursday watching from a suite — his suite.

It wasn’t exactly a sight he enjoyed either, as Kansas City stumbled to a 21-20 loss. Jones was powerless to help his teammates after celebrating their latest Super Bowl triumph with a pregame banner-raising ceremony, and he mostly spent the game “biting my nails” and feeling like the 80,000 or so other fans crowded into Arrowhead Stadium.

“It all seemed crazy,” Jones said. “This is the first time I sat in my suite. I see why I pay so much money. The food was amazing. But it was a different point of view. From a fan’s perspective, I could see how stressful it was.

It’s been a stressful offseason for the Chiefs, who have attempted to come to terms with Jones on a long-term deal; he is completing a four-year, $80 million pact.

But the two sides were never close, and as negotiations dragged on, Jones racked up millions in fines for missing mandatory minicamp, training camp and the preseason. He also lost his Week 1 game check.

Jones said his reworked contract allows him to recoup the fines, but did not discuss the details. He also said he would not continue negotiations during the season, but was willing to revisit them once they were complete.

“I don’t want to go back and forth during the season,” Jones said. “My goal right now is to give my best for this team; being the best player on this defense, the best player in the league. Anything less than that is a disappointment to me.

Jones also said he’s not necessarily trying to become the highest-paid defensive tackle in the league. That honor currently belongs to the Rams’ Aaron Donald, who is playing on a three-year, $96 million contract.

“Not at all,” he said. “Is it important to be the best in my position? Absolutely.”

There’s an argument to be made that Jones was exactly that last season. He had 15 1/2 sacks to tie the best season of his career, notched his first sacks in the playoffs and won his second Super Bowl ring in the last four years.

His ability to produce pressure from inside the line is unique, and it was sorely missed in the Chiefs’ loss to the Lions. They were already playing without defensive end Charles Omenihu, who is serving a six-game suspension handed down by the NFL, and ended up firing Detroit’s Jared Goff just once.

It goes without saying that the offensive group will have to do better against Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence on Sunday.

It remains to be seen how much Jones will play in Jacksonville, but he was greeted Wednesday by a Kansas City locker room that has consistently said throughout the offseason that he will stay out of business.

“Happy to have it.” Chris is not only a great player, but also a great person in the locker room,” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. “He always has a smile on his face. Like I said at the start of training camp, whenever he comes back here, we’ll welcome him with open arms, and now we’re going to try to go out there and get a victory.

NOTES: TE Travis Kelce was back in practice after hyperextending his knee last week. He missed the game against Detroit, but Reid was optimistic about his availability in Jacksonville. “It’s like Chris. They are good football players. We welcome them back and we go,” Reid said, “but on the other hand, I expect the other guys to step up and get the job done. »

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl